We’re halfway through the winter here at the little urban quasi-homestead. One thing is absolutely clear: If this were little house on the prairie, I’d be dead and my corpse would have been eaten by wild goats by now. It is damn near impossible to be 100% self-sustainable during the winter months this day in age, especially in an urban setting.

Over the summer, fresh foods were easy to come by. Whether they were growing in our backyard or were acquired through farmer’s markets – we had plenty of them and we were rarely visiting big chain grocery stores. However, now that the summer frenzy of food trickled to a halt, even with our attempts at canning, we do not have a truly sustainable food supply.

Fortunately, grocery stores are an option for us. That’s the idea of industrial agriculture – to make simple groceries a reality for a lot of people. We rely a fair bit on what we get delivered via Door to Door Organics. What we do get from the neighborhood grocery store rarely extends much farther than grains and eggs. It’s a concerted effort on a lot of fronts – eating foods that are better for you, better for the earth.

As easy as the local grocer can make this, it’s boggling to think that there was a time this didn’t exist. Where what you were eating is pretty much what you could grow and procure on your own.

Looking back, I’m amazed at how much planning, forethought, and general ingenuity it takes to put up enough food to keep two people fed for the half of the year food isn’t actively growing.  Even when our gardens were growing and producing at full tilt, we weren’t 100% reliant on them. Although, they did put a huge dent in our food budget.

July, August, September – the hottest months around Colorado, and what were we doing? Burning the stove on high and boiling lots of water to preserve foods while they were still fresh. Even with our modern conveniences it was a lot of work. Some of what we canned could be eaten right out of the jar. Others are still basically ingredients. Putting them away was more of “we can’t let it go bad” and less of “what are we going to want to use this for in several months from now?

Tonight’s forecast says snow. Each night still dips into the twenties. It’s January in Denver, and if you live in the same climate zone as I do then the planting season is still several weeks away. Months still remain before any seedlings can be planted.

However, if you’re antsy like I am, then there are still plenty of things to do between now and when the warmer weather arrives.

• Plan your garden.Beyond deciding where it goes and what you’re planting, there are countless other factors to consider. You’ll be surprised to learn that gardens can give you several harvests throughout the season (usually one at the end of spring, several throughout the summer, in the fall, and right before the first frost). Consider what kind of soils your plants grow best in. Read up on companion planting to see what else should be planted to ensure awesome growth. Should you start the seeds indoors? Plant directly into the ground? Looks like you’ve got some research to do.
• Oh, and if you haven’t ordered your seeds already, get on it. Many companies are now accepting online orders.
• Test the soil, especially if last season’s garden was productive. Nutrients may need to be replaced, acidity needs to be balanced.  A quick test: Get two samples of your soil from the same area. Add about a 1/2 cup of water and a 1/2 of baking soda to one and a 1/2 cup of vinegar to the other. Either one or the other should fizz. If it is the vinegar, then your soil is acidic and can be balanced by adding some wood ash. If the baking soda sample fizzes your soil is alkaline, add pine needles. Or, add compost to kickstart the organic compounds already in your soil.
• Speaking of compost. If you have a compost pile in your back yard, the cold weather may have caused you to forget about it. Give it a few turns a week to keep the composting process active. It’s always a smart idea to have compost on hand.
• How are your garden beds holding up? If the winter weather has given the wood a beating, consider replacing a few panels. Looking to expand your garden? Now is a good a time as any to build new beds, till soil, and get things breathing. This is also a good time to start collecting buckets and containers to grow in as well.
• Gather containers to store food in. No matter what the square footage you end up planting, you’re probably going to end up with more than you can digest in one sitting. Keep those veggies fresh in the fridge, give them away to your friends, and don’t forget to brush up on your canning/drying/preserving technique.

What attention does your garden need? Leave your answers in the comments below.

 

 

 

 

I have never really been the kind to wait until the new year to act on personal resolutions. However, as the calendar pages get ready to turn and we embark on a whole new year, many people will be looking to use the fresh start to better themselves.  This year, however, I extend a challenge to you.

What would happen if you took your resolutions one step further? You’d be surprised. Not only would you be doing your community a favor, but the resolutions stand a chance of surviving past January.Common resolutions look like the following:

• lose weight/ get fit
• save money
• more time with family/friends
• travel more. 

Here are a few one-step-further resolutions that can have a significantly larger impact.

• Curb your meat consumption. Ideally, all of the way down to zero. The word is out that meat isn’t great for you, is anything but awesome for the environment, and the meat that eventually makes its way to your plate is loaded with antibiotics. By moving meat from the center of your plate to an occasional side dish you’ll be taking about 1/3 off the top of your grocery bill.  Those 10 pounds you resolved to lose? Dropping meat will definitely drop those. You’ll also find yourself with more energy to do things like, say, exercise! Or be active. Or, ultimately, sleep better.
• Consider the energy. From moving your car to heating your home, we spend a surprising amount of money on fuels. Everything we consume requires energy of some capacity to be produced. Keep this in mind when changing your consumption habits. Take shorter showers, modify your home so it is better insulated, ride your bike to work or consider working remotely a few days a week. I anticipate a lot more remote workers and telecommuting this year, its up to you to convince your employer that it is an option worth exploring.
• Cook at home. Sure, you’re saving money. But you’re also preparing foods that are better for you and you can cook extra to save for another meal. You also have the option of sourcing locally grown and organic foods – supporting your farmers and smarter growing practices. When planning menus and shopping for food, try to think beyond of “what do I want to eat” and more into “what is available?” Eat within reason by eating within season.
•  Cultivate communities. Either through participation or facilitation, by just starting conversations about green and sustainable lifestyles works to change people’s minds and habits. This past year I’ve enjoyed hosting a few parties with food-based themes, showing off my garden, and working through this site to show both friends and strangers that living a more sustainable, self-sufficient lifestyle is well within everyone’s reach.

This year, think one step further.

And, of course, figure out how to do all of this at minimal cost. We want to have loads of seedlings in all kinds of varieties to sell/trade with all of our other neighborly gardeners.

I also want to make some time to help out those who have asked over the past few months about setting up their own gardens so they are successful for the season.

I really wish there wasn’t snow on the ground right now. Alas.